Francis Edwin “Ed” Allen (1918  - 2004)   Ed Allen was born on November 13, 1918 in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, England.  He came to Canada and trained as a machinist in Manitoba, and later worked for Burrard Dry Dock in North Vancouver, B.C.  During World War II, Ed served in the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps.  After release from the army, Ed again worked for Burrard Dry Dock, but soon started work at Letson and Burpee, Ltd as a machinist.  He was to work there, and Kockums Industries Ltd., which purchased later Letson and Burpee, for the rest of his career. He retired in 1981 as Chief Engineer, but continued working as a consultant.   Ed Allen died on August 3, 2004 in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada.   Ed was instrumental in the development of “high strain” bandmills.  With over 40 years of industry experience and 10 patents, he was internationally known as one of the most knowledgeable professionals in bandsawing equipment.  In recognition for a lifetime contribution to the forest industry, Ed received the 21st Wood Technology Award for Excellence.   Ed Allen, the developer of high-strain sawing, was the recipient of the 21st Annual Award for Excellence at the Portland Wood Technology Clinic and Show. Holder of numerous patents and author of many papers on sawmilling techniques, Allen was recognized for his many pioneering contributions to the modern sawmill. The North Vancouver, BC resident, now retired, developed the air strain system of applying and regulating pulling force in band saw blades, resulting in the development of thin kerf technology and improved accuracy. Allen also developed a method to accurately determine the maximum feed speed for band saws, known as the Gullet Feed Index (GFI), a method still in use throughout the industry. Among many other advances, he optimized band saw tooth design and assisted the industry in trouble-shooting sawing problems and improving sawing performance.  (Citation from Logging & Sawmilling Journal magazine, April 2000)   Although not formally trained, Ed learned and used mathematics, statistics and engineering science.  One of Ed’s contributions was to help bring wood machining from rough reckoning to a science by applying engineering principles.  Not only did Ed’s ideas end up in his machines, he also shared them with others.  Even after retiring, Ed continued to make presentations at the conferences on Sawing Technology and at the annual Workshop on Design, Operation and Maintenance of Circular and Band Saws organized by the Wood Machining Institute and held every year prior to the Wood Show & Clinic in Portland.  He also gave talks in New Zealand, and other parts of the world.   He was involved with the following inventions and developments: High-strain air-strain bandmill.  The design is still sold by USNR under the Letson & Burpee (L&B) name, and still considered the “Cadillac” of bandmills, Automatic bandsaw tensioning machine.  Developed before the computer power needed was available, but still 20 years ahead of any other commercial machines. Sine bar level for measuring bandsaw guide pressure and plumb surfaces.  Developed the equations for bandsaw guide pressure. Allen Gauge for measuring bandsaw tension. First to understand and calculate the effect of fatigue on bandsaw cracking Early proponent of statistical evaluation of sawing accuracy Although Ed never wrote a book, he contributed his experimental data and design guidelines for saws to several authors.  Researchers at the University of British Columbia and Forintek Canada Corp. benefited greatly from Ed’s generous gifts of time, advice and encouragement.   Ed’s legacy goes beyond his technical work, and includes a profound influence on a generation of engineers, machine builders, and researchers.  Ed was always a true gentleman and embodied the spirit, curiosity, and generosity of an engineer.     Selected Publications: ·          Allen, F.E.  Merits of the High-Strain Bandmill.  Forest Industries Review (New Zealand), December 1972. ·          Allen, F.E.  High-Strain/Thin Kerf:   Modern Sawmill Techniques, Proceedings of the First North American Sawmill Clinic, Portland, Oregon, February 1973 ·          Allen, F.E.  Quality Control in the Timber Industry.  Australian Forest Industries Journal.  September 1973. ·          Allen, F.E.  Some Considerations of Modern Bandmill Design.  Lumber Manufacturing.  Conference Proceedings.  Edited by Ed Williston, University of Washington, November 1976. ·          Allen, F.E. Some Considerations of Bandmill Feeds Speeds and Accuracy, Conference Proceedings – Lumber Manufacturing, Institute of Forest Products, College of Forest Resources, University of Washington, 1976. ·          Allen, F.E.  Understanding Modern Sawing Systems and Maintaining their Integrity.  Proceedings of an F.P.R.S. Conference on “Sawing Technology:  The Key to Improved Profits”.  San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 1984.   Patents  ·          Roll Tension Monitor For Saw Blade,” Allen, F.E. and A. W. Porter, Vancouver, Canada.  U.S. Patent 3916680; Issue date:  November 4, 1975 ·          Automatic Roll Tensioning Method and Apparatus, by Allen, F. E. and A. Wilkinson, North Vancouver, U.S. Patent 3,919,900;  Issue Date:  November 18, 1975, 5 pages. ·          Band Mill Strain Mechanism, by F.E. Allen and J.D. McGuire. US Patent 3,946,634. Issue Date: March 30, 1976. ·          Air Strain Mechanism for Bandmill, by R.A. Baldrey and F.E. Allen. US Patent 3,838,620. Issue Date: October 1, 1974. ·          Bandmill Tilting ArborMechanism, by F.E. Allen. Canadian Patent 895668. Issue Date: March 21, 1972. ·          Log Feed Conveyor for Bandmill, by F.E. Allen. Canadian Patent 944712. Issue Date: April 2, 1974. US Patent 3,858,713, Issue Date January 7, 1975. ·          Saw Feeding Machine, by F.E. Allen. Canadian Patent 724966. Issue Date: January 4, 1966. ·          Crowder Roll Arm for Bandmill, by F.E. Allen. Canadian Patent 958626. Issue Date: December 3, 1974.  US Patent 3,827,324, Issue Date August 6, 1974 ·          Shear Blade, by F.E. Allen. US Patent 3,69,675. Issue Date: September 26, 1972. ·          Intermediate Dogging Device for End Dogging Log Carriage, by F.E. Allen and R. Wijesinghe. US Patent 4,264,064. Issue Date: April 28, 1981.         Prepared by Bruce Lehmann, Ph.D., P.Eng December 2004